FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to hydroformylation.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Hydroformylation, also referred to as the oxo process, represents the conversion
of an olefin into an aldehyde through metal-catalyzed carbonyl addition. Hydroformylation
reactions may take place by contacting synthesis gas ("syngas"), a mixture of carbon
monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H
2), with an olefin in the presence of a suitable catalyst to form a hydroformylation
reaction product. Frequently, the aldehydes within the hydroformylation reaction product
are converted into alcohols through subsequent reduction, thereby forming primary
alcohols having one carbon atom more than the olefin from which they were produced.
Long-chain primary alcohols formed through hydroformylation and subsequent reduction
may find many uses including, for example, organic solvents, detergents, surfactants,
or the alcohol component of ester-based plasticizers for polymers (e.g., PVC).
[0003] Typical hydroformylation catalysts comprise a Group 9 transition metal, such as cobalt
or rhodium. Hydridocobalt tetracarbonyl (HCo(CO)
4) is a particularly efficacious Group 9 transition metal hydroformylation catalyst.
In conventional hydroformylation processes, the hydroformylation catalyst may be removed
(recovered) from a hydroformylation reaction product or a reduced variant thereof,
and undergo subsequent recycling for promoting further use. Catalyst removal from
a hydroformylation reaction product may be achieved by converting the catalyst metal,
such as cobalt, into an aqueous-soluble form under oxidizing conditions so it may
be separated from the organic components of the hydroformylation reaction product.
The aqueous-soluble form of the catalyst metal is not catalytically active and, therefore,
must be converted back into a catalytically active form before it may promote further
hydroformylation. Conversion into the catalytically active form may occur
in situ under hydroformylation reaction conditions, such as described in
U.S. Patent 4,225,458, wherein cobalt carboxylates (cobalt soaps) may be converted back into an active
hydroformylation catalyst under hydroformylation reaction conditions. Other representative
references describing hydroformylation reactions and various processes conducted therein
include, for example,
U.S. Patents 3,234,146 and
2,802,846.
WO2008/122526 A1 relates to a process for the recovery of cobalt from the product of a continuous
cobalt catalyzed hydroformylation reaction.
[0004] Regenerating an active hydroformylation catalyst from a deactivated catalyst solution,
referred to as "preforming" herein, is not a trivial aspect of a hydroformylation
process and sometimes may occur at a rate that is much slower than desired. Identifying
sources of hydroformylation catalyst preforming delays and mitigating effects thereof
would be beneficial to various industries.
SUMMARY
[0005] In various embodiments, methods of the present disclosure comprise: contacting an
olefinic feed with syngas and a hydroformylation catalyst comprising a Group 9 transition
metal under conditions effective to form a hydroformylation reaction product; treating
the hydroformylation reaction product with an aqueous carboxylic acid under oxidizing
conditions to form a deactivated catalyst aqueous solution having a pH of about 4
or less; reducing the hydroformylation reaction product to form a reduced reaction
product; conveying a gas stream through the reduced reaction product at a rate sufficient
to strip at least some carbon dioxide therefrom, thereby forming a stripped reduced
reaction product; contacting fresh caustic aqueous solution with the stripped reduced
reaction product; recovering a partially spent caustic aqueous solution after contacting
the stripped reduced reaction product with the fresh caustic aqueous solution; combining
at least a portion of the partially spent caustic aqueous solution and the deactivated
catalyst aqueous solution to form a combined aqueous mixture having a pH sufficiently
acidic to decompose carbonate; extracting a Group 9 transition metal carboxylate from
the combined aqueous mixture into an organic phase; and exposing the organic phase
to the conditions effective to form the hydroformylation reaction product.
[0006] In other various aspects, methods of the present disclosure comprise: contacting
an olefinic feed with syngas and a hydroformylation catalyst comprising a Group 9
transition metal under conditions effective to form a hydroformylation reaction product;
treating the hydroformylation reaction product with an aqueous carboxylic acid under
oxidizing conditions to form a deactivated catalyst aqueous solution having a pH of
about 4 or less; combining a partially spent caustic aqueous solution with the deactivated
catalyst aqueous solution to form a combined aqueous mixture having a pH sufficiently
acidic to decompose carbonate; combining fresh caustic aqueous solution with the combined
aqueous mixture after combining the partially spent caustic aqueous solution therewith,
the pH of the combined aqueous mixture being at least about 7.5 after combining the
fresh caustic aqueous solution; extracting a Group 9 transition metal carboxylate
from the combined aqueous mixture into an organic phase; and providing the organic
phase to the conditions effective to form the hydroformylation reaction product.
[0007] In still other various aspects, methods of the present disclosure comprise: forming
a reduced reaction product through reduction of a hydroformylation reaction product;
conveying a gas stream through the reduced reaction product at a rate sufficient to
remove at least some carbon dioxide therefrom, thereby forming a stripped reduced
reaction product;_contacting the stripped reduced reaction product with fresh caustic
aqueous solution to form a partially spent caustic aqueous solution; contacting the
partially spent caustic aqueous solution with a deactivated catalyst aqueous solution
to form a combined aqueous mixture having a pH sufficiently acidic to decompose carbonate,
the deactivated catalyst aqueous solution comprising a Group 9 transition metal, having
a pH of about 4 or less, and being obtained from a hydroformylation reaction; combining
fresh caustic aqueous solution with the combined aqueous mixture after combining the
partially spent caustic aqueous solution therewith, the pH of the combined aqueous
mixture being at least about 7.5 after combining the fresh caustic aqueous solution;
extracting a Group 9 carboxylate from the combined aqueous mixture into an organic
phase; and exposing the organic phase to hydroformylation reaction conditions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The following figures are included to illustrate certain aspects of the present disclosure
and should not be viewed as exclusive embodiments. The subject matter disclosed is
capable of considerable modifications, alterations, combinations, and equivalents
in form and function, as will occur to one having ordinary skill in the art and having
the benefit of this disclosure.
FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a hydroformylation process implementing a first variant
of the methods described herein.
FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a hydroformylation process implementing a second variant
of the methods described herein.
FIG. 3 is a graph showing the conversion rates of olefins to aldehydes under various
conditions.
FIG. 4 is an infrared spectrum of a precipitate formed when regenerating a cobalt
hydroformylation catalyst in the presence of sodium carbonate.
FIG. 5 is a graph showing the effect of gas stripping a reduced hydroformylation reaction
product and the resulting amount of carbonate formed in a partially spent caustic
aqueous solution contacted with the reduced hydroformylation reaction product.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] The present disclosure relates to hydroformylation and, more specifically, to methods
for increasing the rate of hydroformylation catalyst preforming during hydroformylation
reactions.
[0010] As discussed above, catalyst preforming rates during hydroformylation are currently
problematic. Surprisingly, the presence of carbonates has now been identified in the
present disclosure as a source of the preforming delay. Without being bound by any
theory or mechanism, it is believed that the presence of carbonates results in formation
of catalyst metal carbonate compounds that must be decomposed before an active hydroformylation
catalyst may be regenerated. Carbonates may be introduced to a catalyst metal undergoing
recycling from several unexpected sources, as discussed herein. The present disclosure
discusses how the various sources of carbonates may be addressed during hydroformylation
processes to increase the rate of catalyst preforming, wherein various carbonate mitigation
strategies may be implemented separately or in combination with one another depending
on the level of carbonate remediation required. Advantageously, the processes for
mitigating carbonates may be readily incorporated within existing hydroformylation
processes, and, therefore, minimize the need for extensive process modifications.
[0011] The methods of the present disclosure are discussed further hereinafter with reference
to FIG. 1, which is a diagram of a hydroformylation process in which various strategies
have been implemented to mitigate the presence of carbonates when recycling catalyst
metal. The methods of the present disclosure may be implemented separately or, more
preferably, in combination with one other, to mitigate the presence of carbonates,
particularly during catalyst preforming of a recycled hydroformylation catalyst metal,
such as cobalt or another Group 9 transition metal effective for promoting hydroformylation.
Mitigating the presence of carbonates may comprise removing carbon dioxide from the
process stream at one or more locations, specifically by limiting the amount of carbon
dioxide introduced to partially spent caustic aqueous solutions formed during hydroformylation
reaction product treatment and catalyst recycling operations, thereby limiting the
quantity of carbonates returned to the hydroformylation reaction with the catalyst
metal, as explained in further detail herein. Additional strategies to mitigate residual
carbonates within the partially spent caustic aqueous solution are also addressed
herein.
[0012] Caustic aqueous solutions are known to be subject to carbon dioxide uptake from air,
which may result in a concentration change of the caustic due to carbonate formation.
Surprisingly, this process is not the main contributor to carbonate formation in the
partially spent caustic aqueous solutions formed and employed in the disclosure herein.
Instead, residual carbon dioxide from the hydroformylation reaction product or a reduced
form thereof may account for a substantial majority of the carbonates formed in the
partially spent caustic aqueous solution and subsequently returned to the hydroformylation
reaction. The present disclosure addresses this issue in at least two complementary
ways, which can be implemented separately or in combination.
[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, hydroformylation process 100 illustrates various methods to
decrease the formation of catalyst metal carbonates during catalyst metal preforming.
Hydroformylation 101 may be carried out by contacting olefinic feed 1 with syngas
(hydrogen and carbon monoxide,
e.g., a 1:1 mixture) 2 and a hydroformylation catalyst under conditions effective to
form hydroformylation reaction product 4, which may comprise at least one aldehyde.
Examples of suitable hydroformylation catalysts may include those comprising a Group
9 transition metal (
e.g., cobalt or rhodium, preferably cobalt). Examples of suitable hydroformylation catalysts
comprising cobalt include cobalt carbonyls, such as Co
2(CO)
8, which may convert to HCo(CO)
4 under high CO/H
2 pressures commonly encountered during hydroformylation. Suitable syngas pressures
effective for forming HCo(CO)
4 in situ may range from about 1 MPa to about 30 MPa, with a ratio of H
2:CO partial pressures ranging from about 2:3 to about 3:2, preferably about 1.2:1.
Suitable reaction temperatures during hydroformylation may range from about room temperature
to about 200°C (
i.e., about 25°C to about 200°C), or any subrange in between.
[0014] Suitable olefinic feeds 1 useful in the processes described herein are not considered
to be particularly limited. In some process configurations, one or more alpha olefins
may comprise olefinic feed 1. Suitable alpha olefins may include, but are not limited
to C
6+ alpha olefins, such as 1-hexene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, 1-nonene, 1-decene, 1-undecene
1-dodecene, 1-tridecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-pentadecene, 1-hexadecene, 1-heptadecene,
1-octadecene, 1-nonadecene, 1-eicosene, 1-heneicosene, 1-docosene, 1-tricosene, 1-tetracosene,
1-pentacosene, 1-hexacosene, 1-heptacosene, 1-octacosene, 1-nonacosene, 1-triacontene,
4-methyl-1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, 5-methyl-1-nonene, 3,5,5-trimethyl-1-hexene,
vinylcyclohexane, and vinylnorbornane. Internal olefins, vinylidene olefins, and the
like may also comprise at least a portion of olefinic feed 1 in various process implementations.
Internal olefins and/or vinylidene olefins may undergo hydroformylation in combination
with alpha olefins in some process configurations. Other particularly desirable process
configurations may include those in which an oligomerization reaction product of propene,
butenes, and/or pentenes undergoes hydroformylation according to the disclosure herein,
wherein the oligomerization reaction product may comprise a terminal or non-terminal
olefinic bond.
[0015] To begin the process of catalyst recycling, the hydroformylation catalyst may be
removed from hydroformylation reaction product 4 as a metal salt in metal extraction
103. In particular, hydroformylation reaction product 4 may be treated with aqueous
carboxylic acid 3 under oxidizing conditions to promote oxidation and formation of
a metal carboxylate, which is soluble in water. The catalyst metal may undergo oxidation
in this process to produce the water-soluble form. Suitable oxidizing conditions may
include, for example, air, oxygen/inert gas mixtures, oxygen/hydrocarbon gas mixtures,
or the like. Mild chemical oxidants, such as hydrogen peroxide, may also be employed.
Examples of suitable carboxylic acids for use in metal extraction 103 to form a water-soluble
metal carboxylate include, but are not limited to, acetic acid, formic acid, and propionic
acid. In the particular example of a cobalt hydroformylation catalyst, aqueous acetic
acid may be used to extract cobalt into an aqueous phase in the form of cobalt acetate.
The resulting deactivated catalyst aqueous solution 17 may have a pH of about 4 or
less. Deactivated catalyst aqueous solution 17 may be separated from an organic phase
comprising demetallized hydroformylation reaction product 5, such as via phase partitioning.
Optionally, the extraction process undertaken in metal extraction 103 may be repeated
until the metal content of the organic phase is decreased to a desired level. Metal
extraction 103 may be carried out at a temperature and pressure to prevent the aqueous
phase from boiling. For example, a temperature from about 38°C to about 93°C, or about
65°C to about 93°C, from about 70°C to about 90°C, or from about 75°C to about 85°C
may be used at a pressure of about 40 psi (276 kpa) to about 150 psi (1030 kpa). Atmospheric
pressure metal extraction 103 is also contemplated in the present disclosure. Aqueous
carboxylic acid 3 may be combined with hydroformylation reaction product 4 at molar
excess over the stoichiometric requirement, such as about 50% to about 100% excess
on a molar basis. Further processing of deactivated catalyst aqueous solution 17 and
the organic phase comprising demetallized hydroformylation reaction product 5 may
then take place, as described hereinafter.
[0016] The organic phase comprising demetallized hydroformylation reaction product 5 may
then be reduced 105 to form reduced reaction product 6 comprising at least one alcohol.
Optionally, prior to reducing, demetallized hydroformylation reaction product 5 may
be distilled to remove any unreacted olefins or any unwanted side products. Alternatively
or additionally, demetallized hydroformylation reaction product 5 may be subjected
to hydrolysis reaction conditions to convert esters and/or acetals into alcohols and/or
aldehydes. Reduction may be carried out by any technique known to one of ordinary
skill in the art, such as, but not limited to, hydrogenation in the presence of hydrogen
and a suitable hydrogenation catalyst (
e.g., nickel, platinum, palladium, sulfided molybdenum, sulfided nickel molybdenum, sulfided
cobalt molybdenum, copper chromite, and the like). One of ordinary skill in the art
will be familiar with the conditions suitable for conducting a hydrogenation reaction
in the presence of a particular hydrogenation catalyst.
[0017] Hydroformylation process 100 recirculates various process elements in an integrated
process of hydroformylation, catalyst metal recycling and product purification as
described in further detail hereinafter. The integrated process may be conducted such
that limited carbonates are returned to hydroformylation 101. In one particular aspect,
it has been found that carbon dioxide may be present in reduced reaction product 6,
which may undesirably affect (lower) the rate of catalyst preforming when transported
back to deactivated catalyst aqueous solution 17 in the form of dissolved carbonates.
In particular, carbon dioxide may be carried forward in the integrated process in
the form of dissolved carbonates from reduced reaction product 6 to hydroformylation
101 via a partially spent caustic aqueous solution in which carbonates have formed
in a reaction between caustic (
e.g., NaOH) and the carbon dioxide, as explained further herein. Once the carbonates
contact deactivated catalyst aqueous solution 17, undesired preforming delays may
occur due to catalyst metal carbonate formation (
e.g., cobalt carbonate) upon returning the catalyst metal to hydroformylation 101. Accordingly,
the present disclosure takes various measures to mitigate the presence of carbon dioxide
in reduced reaction product 6 and to promote removal of carbonates in other steps
of hydroformylation process 100 so that minimal catalyst metal carbonate is returned
to hydroformylation 101.
[0018] Referring still to FIG. 1, reduced reaction product 6 may be subjected to gas stripping
107 following reduction to remove at least some of the carbon dioxide therefrom. Gas
stripping 107 may employ stripping gas 7 to promote physical desorption of carbon
dioxide from reduced reaction product 6 prior to its further processing. In particular,
reduced reaction product 6 may be purged with stripping gas 7 during gas stripping
107 to form stripped reduced reaction product 9. Stripping gas 7 may be any gas that
will effectively remove (strip/desorb) at least some carbon dioxide from reduced reaction
product 7 and carry the carbon dioxide into effluent 8. Examples of suitable stripping
gasses include, but are not limited to, an inert gas (
e.g., nitrogen, helium, or argon or natural gas). Stripping gas 7 may be conveyed through
reduced reaction product 6 at a rate effective to remove at least a portion of the
carbon dioxide therefrom, for example, from about 300 pounds/hour (about 136 kg/hour)
to about 650 pounds/hour (about 295 kg/hour), or from about 375 pounds/hour (about
170 kg/hour) to about 500 pounds/hour (about 227 kg/hour), or from about 425 pounds/hour
(about 193 kg/hour) to about 475 pounds/hour (about 215 kg/hour). Higher gas flow
rates of stripping gas 7 may promote removal of higher quantities of carbon dioxide
from reduced reaction product 6. Although not shown, stripping gas 7 may be recirculated
to gas stripping 107, if desired. Gas stripping 107 may be conducted in any suitable
location, such as a tower or vessel fed with reduced reaction product 6.
[0019] After gas stripping 107 has taken place, stripped reduced reaction product 9 may
then be contacted with caustic aqueous solution 10 in caustic treatment 109 to afford
an organic phase comprising partially purified alcohols 11 and an aqueous phase comprising
a partially spent caustic aqueous solution 15. Caustic aqueous solution 10 may be
fresh caustic that contains limited carbonates and has not previously been used for
promoting product purification. The aqueous and organic phases may be separated from
one another by phase partitioning for further processing. As used herein, the term
"caustic" refers to a basic alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt, such as a hydroxide
including, but not limited to, sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide,
magnesium hydroxide, or the like. The term "partially spent" means that the concentration
or amount of caustic in the aqueous solution has been decreased in the course of contacting
stripped reduced reaction product 9, but at least some alkalinity remains. Preferably
the partially spent caustic aqueous solution has a pH higher than 7. One of ordinary
skill in the art will be familiar with reasons for contacting stripped reduced reaction
product 9 with caustic aqueous solution 10, such as to remove acidic impurities arising
from hydroformylation 101, the reaction taking place in reduction 105, or during metal
extraction 103. One having ordinary skill in the art will also be familiar with suitable
conditions and equipment for contacting stripped reduced reaction product 9 with caustic
aqueous solution 10 to remove acid impurities, such as inline mixers, settling tanks,
batch reactors, and the like. Such conditions and equipment may be substantially identical
to contacting conditions used for removing acidic impurities when gas stripping 107
is not performed, as in conventional hydroformylation processes.
[0020] It is to be understood that gas stripping 107 is not necessary for performing further
procedures described herein for mitigating the presence of carbonates, but gas stripping
107 may be highly beneficial for process efficiency. If gas stripping 107 is not performed,
the carbonate content of partially spent caustic aqueous solution 15 may be very high,
which correspondingly results in greater carbon dioxide release during subsequent
processing operations described hereinafter. Excessive carbon dioxide release of this
type may cause unwanted foaming and process upsets. As such, it can be highly beneficial
to remove as much carbon dioxide as possible by performing gas stripping 107.
[0021] The aqueous phase comprising partially spent caustic aqueous solution 15 may retain
sufficient alkalinity to perform other process operations, as described hereinafter.
Advantageously, reuse of partially spent caustic aqueous solution 15 may decrease
the need to supply fresh caustic aqueous solution to hydroformylation process 100,
thereby simplifying process logistics and decreasing supply costs. Even with removal
of a portion of the carbon dioxide from reduced reaction product 6, some carbon dioxide
may still remain and undergo conversion to carbonates during caustic treatment 109.
Residual carbonates formed in partially spent caustic aqueous solution 15 may result
in delayed catalyst preforming when used in supporting other process operations, particularly
when converting the catalyst metal into a suitable form for recycling as discussed
further below. Thus, a second aspect of the present disclosure addresses mitigation
of the carbonates in partially spent caustic aqueous solution 15, as discussed further
herein. Like gas stripping 107, the further process operations for mitigating carbonates
in partially spent caustic aqueous solution 15 may be performed in conjunction with
gas stripping 107, or the additional carbonate mitigation of partially spent caustic
aqueous solution 15 may be omitted if the residual carbonate levels therein are sufficiently
low following gas stripping 107. Preferably, both gas stripping 107 and additional
carbonate removal from partially spent caustic aqueous solution 15 are performed.
[0022] The carbonate content of partially spent caustic aqueous solution 15 may be decreased
significantly by performing gas stripping 107 upon reduced reaction product 6. By
performing gas stripping 107, carbon dioxide concentrations within stripped reduced
reaction product 9 may decreased to such an extent that partially spent caustic aqueous
solution 15 contains not more than about 0.16 mol carbonate/kg partially spent aqueous
caustic, or not more than about 0.10 mol carbonate/kg, or not more than about 0.5
mol carbonate/kg, or not more than 0.05 mol carbonate/kg. By performing gas stripping
107, carbonate concentrations in partially spent caustic aqueous solution 15 may advantageously
range from 0 mol/kg to about 0.16 mol/kg, from about 0.01 mol/kg to about 0.1 mol/kg,
or from about 0.02 mol/kg to about 0.5 mol/kg.
[0023] While gas stripping 107 may significantly decrease the carbonate content of partially
spent caustic aqueous solution 15, additional reduction of the carbonate content may
still be desirable to support a specified rate of catalyst preforming. As described
hereinbelow, partially spent caustic aqueous solution 15 may be acidified during further
use to promote removal of residual carbonates via carbonic acid decomposition. Advantageously,
such processes integrate well with the acidic nature of deactivated catalyst aqueous
solution 17. Before describing such further operations for removing carbonates from
partially spent caustic aqueous solution 15 in further detail, additional process
operations employed in conjunction with recycling of the catalyst metal and catalyst
preforming will first be described.
[0024] Referring still to FIG. 1, organic phase 11 may be distilled 111, which may separate
light organic fraction 12, alcohols 13, and heavy organic fraction 14 (
e.g., C
9 to C
18 carboxylic acids and carboxylate esters) from one another. Heavy organic fraction
14 is also referred herein as "non-distilled bottoms organic fraction". Heavy organic
fraction 14 may be obtained as a bottoms fraction that is then provided as a precursor
to an organic phase used for extracting the catalyst metal from deactivated catalyst
aqueous solution 17. Specifically, heavy organic fraction 14 may be combined with
fresh caustic aqueous solution 22 to form organic soaps 16 (
e.g., alkali or alkaline earth metal carboxylates) in soap formation 113. Organic soaps
16 may comprise about 90% organic materials by weight, with about 10% by weight of
the organic materials being dissolved. Some organic soap formation may also have previously
occurred in caustic treatment 109, with those organic soaps being fed forward with
partially spent caustic aqueous solution 15, as described further below. The organic
soaps formed in partially spent caustic aqueous solution 15 may arise primarily from
a reaction of caustic with a carboxylic acid impurity (
i.e., via direct salt formation), whereas organic soaps 16 formed from heavy organic fraction
14 may result primarily from ester hydrolysis.
[0025] Organic soaps 16 may then be combined with deactivated catalyst aqueous solution
17 at blending operation 115 to form a combined aqueous mixture comprising an organic
phase and an aqueous phase to promote catalyst metal extraction. As shown in FIG.
1, organic soaps 16 are formed prior to contacting deactivated catalyst aqueous solution
17 at blending operation 115. Alternately, heavy organic fraction 14 may be provided
to blending operation 115 without forming organic soaps 16 beforehand, as shown in
the alternative process configuration of FIG. 2. When heavy organic fraction 14 is
provided directly to blending operation 115, organic soaps 16 may be formed under
a first set of reaction conditions at blending operation 115, followed by catalyst
metal extraction into an organic phase comprising organic soaps 16 under a second
set of reaction conditions.
[0026] Typically, the pH of deactivated catalyst aqueous solution 17 is about 4 or less
(
e.g., from about 1 to about 4). In order to drive the catalyst metal from the aqueous
phase into an organic phase comprising organic soaps 16, the pH needs to be increased
to a value of about 7.5 or greater, which is accomplished, in part, by concurrently
feeding partially spent caustic aqueous solution 15 to blending operation 115. By
adding partially spent caustic aqueous solution 15 to blending operation 115 to promote
the pH increase, rather than fresh caustic (as performed in conventional catalyst
recycling operations), the low starting pH of deactivated catalyst aqueous solution
17 may convert residual carbonates in partially spent caustic aqueous solution 15
to carbonic acid, which subsequently decomposes to water and carbon dioxide. The carbon
dioxide bubbles through the liquid to the top of the reactor, facilitated by heating
and stirring of the reactor contents. Once the pH reaches a value of about 6, further
carbonate decomposition becomes inefficient, and a further pH increase to a value
of about 7.5 or greater may be accomplished using fresh caustic aqueous solution 20
containing as low as possible amount of carbonates. Thus, process 100 requires less
caustic material input than in conventional processes, while simultaneously promoting
carbonate removal as a consequence of the manner in which partially spent caustic
aqueous solution 15 is exposed to the catalyst metal.
[0027] Concurrently with blending operation 115, extraction of catalyst metal into organic
soaps 16 may occur (
e.g., within the same reactor vessel where blending operation 115 takes place). Organic
phase 21 (
i.e., a catalyst metal organic soap extract) and aqueous phase 19 may then be separated
from one another by phase partitioning. The original water-soluble metal carboxylate
of the deactivated catalyst metal may be converted to a long-chain, organic-soluble
carboxylate in this process. Since a higher pH may facilitate extraction of the catalyst
metal into organic phase 21, further fresh caustic aqueous solution 20 may be introduced
to blending operation 115 to raise the pH to a level sufficient to promote extraction
of the catalyst metal into organic phase 21 as a metal carboxylate, specifically as
a metal soap (metal carboxylate) derived from the long-chain acids provided from heavy
organic fraction 14. The pH needed to facilitate this process may be about 7.5 or
greater, particularly in a range of about 7.5 to about 8. Thus, the present disclosure
facilitates more complete exclusion of catalyst metal carbonates, such as cobalt carbonate,
during catalyst metal recycling by minimizing the presence of carbonates in partially
spent caustic aqueous solution 15 used in conjunction therewith, specifically by performing
gas stripping 107 upon reduced reaction product 6 and/or by combining partially spent
caustic aqueous solution 15 with deactivated catalyst aqueous solution 17 at a low
pH sufficiently acidic to promote decomposition of carbonates.
[0028] After catalyst metal has been extracted into organic phase 21 at blending operation
115, organic phase 21 may comprise organic soaps of the catalyst metal. Aqueous phase
19 may then be sent to waste or used to supplement other process operations, as desired.
Organic phase 21 may then be conveyed to hydroformylation 101 to resume the catalytic
process cycle. The deactivated catalyst metal may be preformed into an active hydroformylation
catalyst (
e.g., HCo(CO)
4) under the hydroformylation reaction conditions. Optionally, organic phase 21 may
be subjected to a set of preforming conditions effective to convert the deactivated
catalyst metal into its catalytically active form before being contacted with an olefinic
feed in the presence of syngas, wherein the preforming conditions are different from
the hydroformylation conditions.
[0029] Accordingly, methods of the present disclosure may comprise: contacting an olefinic
feed with syngas and a hydroformylation catalyst comprising a Group 9 transition metal
under conditions effective to form a hydroformylation reaction product; treating the
hydroformylation reaction product with an aqueous carboxylic acid under oxidizing
conditions to form a deactivated catalyst aqueous solution having a pH of about 4
or less; reducing the hydroformylation reaction product to form a reduced reaction
product; conveying a gas stream through the reduced reaction product at a rate sufficient
to strip at least some carbon dioxide therefrom, thereby forming a stripped reduced
reaction product; contacting fresh caustic aqueous solution with the stripped reduced
reaction product; recovering a partially spent caustic aqueous solution after contacting
the stripped reduced reaction product with the fresh caustic aqueous solution; combining
at least a portion of the partially spent caustic aqueous solution and the deactivated
catalyst aqueous solution to form a combined aqueous mixture having a pH sufficiently
acidic to decompose carbonate; extracting a Group 9 transition metal carboxylate into
an organic phase; and exposing the organic phase to the conditions effective to form
the hydroformylation reaction product.
[0030] The combined aqueous mixture may have a pH of at least about 7.5 in various process
implementations to allow extraction of the Group 9 transition metal carboxylate to
take place into the organic phase. If a pH of about 7.5 is not reached in the combined
aqueous mixture, fresh caustic aqueous solution may be added.
[0031] The organic phase used to perform extraction of the catalyst metal may be combined
with fresh caustic aqueous solution to form organic soaps before being combined with
the deactivated catalyst aqueous solution, or the fresh caustic aqueous solution and
the organic phase may be provided to the deactivated catalyst aqueous solution and
subsequently undergoing
in situ formation of organic soaps. Concurrently with this process, partially spent caustic
aqueous solution may be provided to the deactivated catalyst aqueous solution until
a pH of about 6 (
e.g., about 4 to about 6, or about 5 to about 6) is reached, and fresh caustic aqueous
solution may then be added to increase the pH to a value of about 7.5 or greater.
[0032] The above methods for promoting catalyst preforming (i.e. increasing the preforming
rate or reducing the preforming time) employ two different procedures for decreasing
carbonate formation in the partially spent caustic aqueous solution used in conjunction
with catalyst metal recycling. As described above, one procedure described herein
comprises stripping carbon dioxide from the reduced reaction product, and a second
procedure comprises combining the partially spent caustic aqueous solution with the
deactivated catalyst aqueous solution at a pH of about 4 or less prior to extracting
catalyst metal into the organic phase. Once a pH of about 6 is reached, fresh caustic
aqueous solution may be added to reach a higher alkaline pH (
e.g., about 7.5 or greater) before extraction takes place. These two procedures may be
used in conjunction with each other, as described above, or one of the procedures
may be omitted, if sufficient carbon dioxide removal/carbonate mitigation may be accomplished
by practicing one of the procedures alone.
[0033] In one example, carbon dioxide removal may be carried out by omitting the procedure
wherein the reduced reaction product undergoes gas stripping. As above, the deactivated
catalyst metal may then be extracted into the organic phase upon raising the pH of
the combined aqueous mixture to about 7.5 or above. The organic phase comprising a
catalyst metal carboxylate may then be exposed to hydroformylation reaction conditions
to reform the active hydroformylation catalyst.
[0034] More specifically, such methods may comprise: contacting an olefinic feed with syngas
and a hydroformylation catalyst comprising a Group 9 transition metal under conditions
effective to form a hydroformylation reaction product; treating the hydroformylation
reaction product with an aqueous carboxylic acid under oxidizing conditions to form
a deactivated catalyst aqueous solution having a pH of about 4 or less; combining
a partially spent caustic aqueous solution with the deactivated catalyst aqueous solution
to form a combined aqueous mixture having a pH sufficiently acidic to decompose carbonate;
combining fresh caustic aqueous solution with the combined aqueous mixture after combining
the partially spent caustic aqueous solution therewith, such that the pH of the combined
aqueous mixture is at least about 7.5 after combining the fresh caustic aqueous solution;
extracting a Group 9 transition metal carboxylate from the combined aqueous mixture
into an organic phase; and providing the organic phase to the conditions effective
to form the hydroformylation reaction product. The organic phase may be formed from
a precursor comprising a heavy organic phase, specifically a heavy organic phase comprising
C
9 to C
18 carboxylic acids and C
9 to C
18 carboxylate esters, which may be hydrolyzed or neutralized to form organic soaps
to promote catalyst metal extraction. The organic soaps may be provided to the combined
aqueous mixture before or after adjusting the pH with the partially spent caustic
aqueous solution. Catalyst metal carboxylates in the organic phase may then be contacted
once more with an olefinic feed and syngas under conditions effective to convert the
hydroformylation catalyst to its active form and subsequently form additional hydroformylation
reaction product.
[0035] Still other methods for mitigating carbonates may comprise: forming a reduced reaction
product through reduction of a hydroformylation reaction product; conveying a gas
stream through the reduced reaction product at a rate sufficient to remove at least
some carbon dioxide therefrom, thereby forming a stripped reduced reaction product;
contacting the stripped reduced reaction product with a caustic aqueous solution to
form a partially spent caustic aqueous solution; contacting the partially spent caustic
aqueous solution with a deactivated catalyst aqueous solution to form a combined aqueous
mixture having a pH sufficiently acidic to decompose carbonate, the deactivated catalyst
aqueous solution comprising a Group 9 transition metal, having a pH of about 4 or
less, and being obtained from a hydroformylation reaction; extracting a Group 9 carboxylate
from the combined aqueous mixture into an organic phase; and exposing the organic
phase to hydroformylation reaction conditions. A heavy organic fraction, specifically
a heavy organic fraction comprising one or more C
9 to C
18 carboxylic acids and C
9 to C
18 carboxylate esters, may serves as a precursor to the organic phase use to promote
extraction of the catalyst metal from the combined aqueous mixture
[0036] The methods described herein may be carried out at any conventional plant equipped
with various process equipment such as reactors (
e.g., stirred batch reactors), separators, condensers, compressors, and the like. One
of ordinary skill in the art will be familiar with such equipment and be able to utilize
the same for carrying out the methods disclosed herein.
[0037] Embodiments disclosed herein include:
- A. Methods for mitigating carbonates by gas stripping and acidification. The methods
comprise: contacting an olefinic feed with syngas and a hydroformylation catalyst
comprising a Group 9 transition metal under conditions effective to form a hydroformylation
reaction product; treating the hydroformylation reaction product with an aqueous carboxylic
acid under oxidizing conditions to form a deactivated catalyst aqueous solution having
a pH of about 4 or less; reducing the hydroformylation reaction product to form a
reduced reaction product; conveying a gas stream through the reduced reaction product
at a rate sufficient to strip at least some carbon dioxide therefrom, thereby forming
a stripped reduced reaction product; contacting fresh caustic aqueous solution with
the stripped reduced reaction product; recovering a partially spent caustic aqueous
solution after contacting the stripped reduced reaction product with the fresh caustic
aqueous solution; combining at least a portion of the partially spent caustic aqueous
solution and the deactivated catalyst aqueous solution to form a combined aqueous
mixture having a pH sufficiently acidic to decompose carbonate; extracting a Group
9 transition metal carboxylate from the combined aqueous mixture into an organic phase;
and exposing the organic phase to the conditions effective to form the hydroformylation
reaction product.
- B. Methods for mitigating carbonates by acidification. The methods comprise: contacting
an olefinic feed with syngas and a hydroformylation catalyst comprising a Group 9
transition metal under conditions effective to form a hydroformylation reaction product;
treating the hydroformylation reaction product with an aqueous carboxylic acid under
oxidizing conditions to form a deactivated catalyst aqueous solution having a pH of
about 4 or less; combining a partially spent caustic aqueous solution with the deactivated
catalyst aqueous solution to form a combined aqueous mixture having a pH sufficiently
acidic to decompose carbonate; combining fresh caustic aqueous solution with the combined
aqueous mixture after combining the partially spent caustic aqueous solution therewith,
the pH of the combined aqueous mixture being at least about 7.5 after combining the
fresh caustic aqueous solution; extracting a Group 9 transition metal carboxylate
from the combined aqueous mixture into an organic phase; and providing the organic
phase to the conditions effective to form the hydroformylation reaction product.
- C. Methods for mitigating carbonates by gas stripping. The methods comprise: forming
a reduced reaction product through reduction of a hydroformylation reaction product;
conveying a gas stream through the reduced reaction product at a rate sufficient to
remove at least some carbon dioxide therefrom, thereby forming a stripped reduced
reaction product;_contacting the stripped reduced reaction product with fresh caustic
aqueous solution to form a partially spent caustic aqueous solution; contacting the
partially spent caustic aqueous solution with a deactivated catalyst aqueous solution
to form a combined aqueous mixture having a pH sufficiently acidic to decompose carbonate,
the deactivated catalyst aqueous solution comprising a Group 9 transition metal, having
a pH of about 4 or less, and being obtained from a hydroformylation reaction; combining
fresh caustic aqueous solution with the combined aqueous mixture after combining the
partially spent caustic aqueous solution therewith, the pH of the combined aqueous
mixture being at least about 7.5 after combining the fresh caustic aqueous solution;
extracting a Group 9 carboxylate from the combined aqueous mixture into an organic
phase; and exposing the organic phase to hydroformylation reaction conditions.
[0038] Each of embodiments A, B, and C may have one or more of the following additional
elements in any combination:
Element 1: wherein the aqueous carboxylic acid comprises acetic acid.
Element 2: wherein the Group 9 transition metal comprises cobalt.
Element 3: wherein the hydroformylation catalyst comprises HCo(CO)4.
Element 4: wherein the reduced reaction product is formed through hydrogenation of
the hydroformylation reaction product.
Element 5: wherein the gas stream comprises natural gas.
Element 6: wherein the gas stream is conveyed through the reduced reaction product
at a rate of about 300 pounds per hour (136 kg/hour) or more.
Element 7: wherein the partially spent caustic aqueous solution comprises about 0.16
mol or less carbonate per kg of solution.
Element 8: wherein the method further comprises distilling one or more alcohols from
the reduced reaction product or the stripped reduced reaction product; obtaining a
non-distilled bottoms organic fraction when distilling the one or more alcohols; and
providing at least a portion of the non-distilled bottoms organic fraction as organic
soaps to the combined aqueous mixture as a precursor to the organic phase.
Element 9: wherein the non-distilled bottoms organic fraction (also referred herein
as heavy organic fraction) comprises one or more C9-C18 carboxylic acids, C9-C18 carboxylate esters, or any combination thereof.
Element 10: wherein the method further comprises: adjusting a pH of the combined aqueous
mixture to a value of at least about 7.5 with fresh caustic aqueous solution after
combining the partially spent caustic aqueous solution with the deactivated catalyst
aqueous solution.
Element 11: wherein the pH sufficiently acidic to decompose carbonate is about 6 or
less.
Element 12: wherein the method further comprises: reducing the hydroformylation reaction
product to form a reduced reaction product; and contacting the reduced reaction product
or a product formed therefrom with fresh caustic aqueous solution to form the partially
spent caustic aqueous solution.
Element 13: wherein the method further comprises: distilling one or more alcohols
from the reduced reaction product or the product formed therefrom; obtaining a non-distilled
bottoms organic fraction when distilling the one or more alcohols; and providing at
least a portion of the non-distilled bottoms organic fraction to the combined aqueous
mixture as a precursor to the organic phase.
Element 14: wherein the method further comprises: conveying a gas stream through the
reduced reaction product at a rate sufficient to remove at least some carbon dioxide
therefrom, thereby forming a stripped reduced reaction product.
Element 15: wherein the stripped reduced reaction product is contacted with fresh
caustic aqueous solution to form the partially spent caustic aqueous solution.
Element 16: wherein the reduced reaction product is formed through hydrogenation of
the hydroformylation reaction product.
[0039] By way of non-limiting example, illustrative combinations applicable to A include,
but are not limited to, 1 and 2; 1-3; 1 and 4; 1 and 5; 1 and 8; 1, 8 and 9; 1 and
10; 1 and 11; 1, 10 and 11; 2 and 3; 2-4; 2 and 5; 2 and 8; 2, 8 and 9; 2 and 10;
2 and 11; 2, 10 and 11; 3 and 4; 3 and 5; 3 and 8; 3 and 10; 3, 10 and 11; 3 and 11;
4 and 5; 4 and 8; 4, 8 and 9; 4 and 10; 4 and 11; 4, 10 and 11; 5 and 8; 5, 8 and
9; 5 and 10; 5 and 11; 5, 10 and 11; and 10 and 11. Illustrative combinations applicable
to B include, but are not limited to, 1 and 2; 1-3; 1 and 11; 1 and 12; 1 and 13;
1, 9 and 13; 1 and 14; 1 and 15; 2 and 3; 2 and 11; 2 and 12; 2 and 13; 2, 9 and 13;
2 and 14; 2 and 15; 9 and 13; 12 and 13; 9, 12 and 13; 11 and 12; 11 and 14; 11 and
15; 12 and 14; 12 and 15; and 14 and 15. Illustrative combinations applicable to C
include, but are not limited to, 2 and 4; 2 and 5; 2 and 6; 2 and 8; 2 and 9; 2 and
10; 4 and 5; 4 and 6; 4 and 8; 4 and 9; 4 and 11; 5 and 6; 5 and 8; 5 and 9; 5 and
11; 6 and 8; 6 and 9; 6 and 11; 8 and 9; 8 and 11; and 9 and 11.
[0040] To facilitate a better understanding of the present disclosure, the following examples
of preferred or representative embodiments are given. In no way should the following
examples be read to limit, or to define, the scope of the invention.
EXAMPLES
[0041] Example 1. A feed comprising octenes made from oligomerization of Raffinate 2 butenes was loaded
into a batch reactor along with a cobalt(II) hydroformylation catalyst precursor capable
of forming HCo(CO)
4, such that the concentration of catalyst metal in the reactor was about 3000 ppm.
The cobalt (II) hydroformylation catalyst precursor was prepared from a cobalt (II)
naphthenate solution containing 6 wt. % Co by adding 10 wt. % water thereto. Depending
on experiment, the water was pure demineralized water, or contained 5 wt. % sodium
carbonate or 5 wt. % sodium acetate. The reactor was heated to about 155°C and syngas
was added to achieve an initial syngas pressure of 300 bar. The preforming time for
the catalyst was taken to be that at which a sudden decline in syngas pressure occurred
which coincides with the onset of conversion. At that time, the syngas pressure was
restored to 300 bar, and conversion was followed over time thereafter.
[0042] To confirm that carbonates indeed affected catalyst preforming, 5% sodium carbonate
was added to the cobalt (II) naphthenate solution used in one run. The results are
shown in FIG. 3, which shows a plot of the extent of conversion as a function of time.
A notable delay in the onset of conversion (
i.e., preforming time) was observed in the presence of the 5% sodium carbonate, as compared
to the preforming time obtained in the absence of sodium carbonate. Solids also formed
when the sodium carbonate was present. Other additives (see FIG. 3) did not delay
the onset of catalyst preforming significantly or form a significant amount of solids.
[0043] A solid formed in the run in which sodium carbonate was added. FIG. 4 shows an infrared
spectrum of the solid obtained in the presence of sodium carbonate. Analysis of the
infrared spectrum showed a good peak match for cobalt carbonate. A solid formed under
plant recycling conditions exhibited an infrared spectrum very similar in appearance
to the infrared spectrum shown in FIG. 4.
[0044] Example 2. To illustrate the effectiveness of natural gas stripping in decreasing the quantity
of carbonates in the partially spent caustic aqueous solution, natural gas was passed
through a reduced hydroformylation reaction product at various rates. Caustic aqueous
solution was then contacted with the stripped hydroformylation reaction product, and
the carbonate concentration of the partially spent caustic aqueous solution was then
determined. The carbonate concentration was determined by acidifying the partially
spent caustic aqueous solution with excess sulfuric acid and measuring the volume
of carbon dioxide liberated therefrom. Results are shown in Table 1 below and in FIG.
5.
Table 1
| Stripping Condition # |
Natural Gas Stripping Rate (lb/hour) |
Run |
Carbonate Concentration (mol CO3/kg partially spent caustic) |
| 1 |
300 (136 kg/hour) |
a |
0.15 |
| 2 |
325 (147 kg/hour) |
a |
0.13 |
| b |
0.02 |
| 3 |
350 (157 kg/hour) |
a |
0.12 |
| b |
0.08 |
| 4 |
375 (170 kg/hour) |
a |
0.1 |
| b |
0.11 |
| 5 |
400 (181 kg/hour) |
a |
0.1 |
| b |
0.07 |
| 6 |
425 (193 kg/hour) |
a |
0 |
| 7 |
450 (204 kg/hour) |
a |
0.04 |
| 8 |
465 (211 kg/hour |
a |
0.03 |
| 9 |
475 (215 kg/hour) |
a |
0.05 |
| 10 |
650 (295 kg/hour) |
a |
0.05 |
[0045] Notably, a higher stripping rate resulted in a lower carbonate concentration in the
partially spent caustic aqueous solution, indicating that natural gas stripping may
be a viable technique for reducing the exposure of the catalyst metal to carbonate
during catalyst recovery and preforming.
[0046] The disclosure herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element that
is not specifically disclosed herein and/or any optional element disclosed herein.
While compositions and methods are described in terms of "comprising," "containing,"
or "including" various components or steps, the compositions and methods can also
"consist essentially of" or "consist of" the various components and steps. All numbers
and ranges disclosed above may vary by some amount. Whenever a numerical range with
a lower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and any included range falling
within the range is specifically disclosed. In particular, every range of values (of
the form, "from about a to about b," or, equivalently, "from approximately a to b,"
or, equivalently, "from approximately a-b") disclosed herein is to be understood to
set forth every number and range encompassed within the broader range of values. All
numerical values within the detailed description and the claims herein are modified
by "about" or "approximately" with respect to the indicated value, and take into account
experimental error and variations that would be expected by a person having ordinary
skill in the art. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning
unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. Moreover, the indefinite
articles "a" or "an," as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more
than one of the element that it introduces.
[0047] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties
such as molecular weight, reaction conditions, and so forth used in the present specification
and associated claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the
term "about." Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters
set forth in the following specification and attached claims are approximations that
may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the embodiments
of the present invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application
of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claim, each numerical parameter
should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits
and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.
[0048] One or more illustrative embodiments incorporating the invention embodiments disclosed
herein are presented herein. Not all features of a physical implementation are described
or shown in this application for the sake of clarity. It is understood that in the
development of a physical embodiment incorporating the embodiments of the present
invention, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the
developer's goals, such as compliance with system-related, business-related, government-related
and other constraints, which vary by implementation and from time to time. While a
developer's efforts might be time-consuming, such efforts would be, nevertheless,
a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art and having benefit of
this disclosure.
1. A method comprising:
contacting an olefinic feed with syngas and a hydroformylation catalyst comprising
a Group 9 transition metal under conditions effective to form a hydroformylation reaction
product;
treating the hydroformylation reaction product with an aqueous carboxylic acid under
oxidizing conditions to form a deactivated catalyst aqueous solution having a pH of
about 4 or less;
reducing the hydroformylation reaction product to form a reduced reaction product;
conveying a gas stream through the reduced reaction product at a rate sufficient to
strip at least some carbon dioxide therefrom, thereby forming a stripped reduced reaction
product;
contacting fresh caustic aqueous solution with the stripped reduced reaction product;
recovering a partially spent caustic aqueous solution after contacting the stripped
reduced reaction product with the fresh caustic aqueous solution;
combining at least a portion of the partially spent caustic aqueous solution and the
deactivated catalyst aqueous solution to form a combined aqueous mixture having a
pH sufficiently acidic to decompose carbonate;
extracting a Group 9 transition metal carboxylate from the combined aqueous mixture
into an organic phase; and
exposing the organic phase to the conditions effective to form the hydroformylation
reaction product.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the aqueous carboxylic acid comprises acetic acid.
3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the Group 9 transition metal comprises cobalt.
4. The method of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the hydroformylation catalyst comprises
HCo(CO)4.
5. The method of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the reduced reaction product is formed
through hydrogenation of the hydroformylation reaction product.
6. The method of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the gas stream comprises natural gas.
7. The method of any one of claims 1-6, wherein the gas stream is conveyed through the
reduced reaction product at a rate of about 300 pounds per hour (136 kg/hour) or more.
8. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the partially spent caustic aqueous solution
comprises about 0.16 mol or less carbonate per kg of solution.
9. The method of any one of claims 1-8, further comprising:
distilling one or more alcohols from the reduced reaction product or the stripped
reduced reaction product;
obtaining a non-distilled bottoms organic fraction when distilling the one or more
alcohols; and
providing at least a portion of the non-distilled bottoms organic fraction as organic
soaps to the combined aqueous mixture as a precursor to the organic phase.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the non-distilled bottoms organic fraction comprises
one or more C9-C18 carboxylic acids, C9-C18 carboxylate esters, or any combination thereof.
11. The method of any one of claims 1-10, further comprising:
adjusting a pH of the combined aqueous mixture to a value of at least about 7.5 with
fresh caustic aqueous solution after combining the partially spent caustic aqueous
solution with the deactivated catalyst aqueous solution.
12. The method of any one of claims 1-11, wherein the pH sufficiently acidic to decompose
carbonate is about 6 or less.
13. A method comprising:
contacting an olefinic feed with syngas and a hydroformylation catalyst comprising
a Group 9 transition metal under conditions effective to form a hydroformylation reaction
product;
treating the hydroformylation reaction product with an aqueous carboxylic acid under
oxidizing conditions to form a deactivated catalyst aqueous solution having a pH of
about 4 or less;
combining a partially spent caustic aqueous solution with the deactivated catalyst
aqueous solution to form a combined aqueous mixture having a pH sufficiently acidic
to decompose carbonate;
combining fresh caustic aqueous solution with the combined aqueous mixture after combining
the partially spent caustic aqueous solution therewith, the pH of the combined aqueous
mixture being at least about 7.5 after combining the fresh caustic aqueous solution;
extracting a Group 9 transition metal carboxylate from the combined aqueous mixture
into an organic phase; and
providing the organic phase to the conditions effective to form the hydroformylation
reaction product.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the carboxylic acid comprises aqueous acetic acid.
15. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein the Group 9 transition metal comprises cobalt.
1. Verfahren, bei dem
olefinisches Einsatzmaterial mit Syngas und Hydroformylierungskatalysator, der Übergangsmetall
der Gruppe 9 umfasst, unter Bedingungen kontaktiert wird, die effektiv sind, um Hydroformylierungsreaktionsprodukt
zu bilden,
das Hydroformylierungsreaktionsprodukt mit wässriger Carbonsäure unter oxidierenden
Bedingungen behandelt wird, um deaktivierte wässrige Katalysatorlösung mit einem pH-Wert
von etwa 4 oder weniger zu bilden,
das Hydroformylierungsreaktionsprodukt reduziert wird, um reduziertes Reaktionsprodukt
zu bilden,
ein Gasstrom mit ausreichender Rate durch das reduzierte Reaktionsprodukt hindurch
gefördert wird, um mindestens einen Teil des Kohlendioxids davon zu strippen, wodurch
gestripptes reduziertes Reaktionsprodukt gebildet wird,
frische alkalische wässrige Lösung mit dem gestrippten reduzierten Reaktionsprodukt
kontaktiert wird,
teilweise verbrauchte alkalische wässrige Lösung nach Kontaktieren des gestrippten
reduzierten Reaktionsprodukts mit der frischen alkalischen wässrigen Lösung gewonnen
wird,
mindestens ein Teil der teilweise verbrauchten alkalischen wässrigen Lösung und der
deaktivierten wässrigen Katalysatorlösung kombiniert werden, um kombinierte wässrige
Mischung mit einem pH-Wert zu bilden, der ausreichend sauer ist, um Carbonat zu zersetzen,
Carboxylat von Übergangsmetall der Gruppe 9 aus der kombinierten wässrigen Mischung
in organische Phase extrahiert wird, und
die organische Phase den Bedingungen ausgesetzt wird, die effektiv sind, um das Hydroformylierungsreaktionsprodukt
zu bilden.
2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, bei dem die wässrige Carbonsäure Essigsäure umfasst.
3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, bei dem das Übergangsmetall der Gruppe
9 Kobalt umfasst.
4. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, bei dem der Hydroformylierungskatalysator
HCo(CO)4 umfasst.
5. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, bei dem das reduzierte Reaktionsprodukt
durch Hydrierung des Hydroformylierungsreaktionsprodukts gebildet wird.
6. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, bei dem der Gasstrom Erdgas umfasst.
7. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, bei dem der Gasstrom mit einer Rate von
etwa 136 kg/Stunde (300 lb pro Stunde) oder mehr durch das reduzierte Reaktionsprodukt
hindurch gefördert wird.
8. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, bei dem die teilweise verbrauchte alkalische
wässrige Lösung etwa 0,16 Mol oder weniger Carbonat pro kg der Lösung umfasst.
9. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8, bei dem des Weiteren
ein oder mehrere Alkohole von dem reduzierten Reaktionsprodukt oder dem gestrippten
reduzierten Reaktionsprodukt destilliert wird bzw. werden,
nicht-destillierte organische Sumpffraktion erhalten wird, wenn der eine oder die
mehreren Alkohole destilliert wird bzw. werden, und
der kombinierten wässrigen Mischung als Vorläufer der organischen Phase mindestens
ein Anteil der nicht-destillierten organischen Sumpffraktion als organische Seifen
bereitgestellt wird.
10. Verfahren nach Anspruch 9, bei dem die nicht-destillierte organische Sumpffraktion
ein oder mehrere C9- bis C18-Carbonsäuren, C9- bis C18-Carboxylatester oder beliebige Kombination davon umfasst.
11. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10, bei dem des Weiteren
ein pH-Wert der kombinierten wässrigen Mischung mit frischer alkalischer wässriger
Lösung auf einen Wert von mindestens etwa 7,5 eingestellt wird, nachdem die teilweise
verbrauchte alkalische wässrige Lösung mit der deaktivierten wässrigen Katalysatorlösung
kombiniert worden ist.
12. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 11, bei dem der pH-Wert, der ausreichend
sauer ist, um Carbonat zu zersetzen, etwa 6 oder weniger beträgt.
13. Verfahren, bei dem
olefinisches Einsatzmaterial mit Syngas und Hydroformylierungskatalysator, der Übergangsmetall
der Gruppe 9 umfasst, unter Bedingungen kontaktiert wird, die effektiv sind, um Hydroformylierungsreaktionsprodukt
zu bilden,
das Hydroformylierungsreaktionsprodukt mit wässriger Carbonsäure unter oxidierenden
Bedingungen behandelt wird, um deaktivierte wässrige Katalysatorlösung mit einem pH-Wert
von etwa 4 oder weniger zu bilden,
teilweise verbrauchte alkalische wässrige Lösung mit der deaktivierten wässrigen Katalysatorlösung
kombiniert wird, um kombinierte wässrige Mischung mit einem pH-Wert zu bilden, der
ausreichend sauer ist, um Carbonat zu zersetzen,
frische alkalische wässrige Lösung mit der kombinierten wässrigen Mischung kombiniert
wird, nachdem die teilweise verbrauchte alkalische wässrige Lösung damit kombiniert
wurde, wobei der pH-Wert der kombinierten wässrigen Mischung nach Kombinieren der
frischen alkalischen wässrigen Lösung mindestens etwa 7,5 beträgt,
Carboxylat von Übergangsmetall der Gruppe 9 aus der kombinierten wässrigen Mischung
in organische Phase extrahiert wird, und
der organischen Phase die Bedingungen verschafft werden, die effektiv sind, um das
Hydroformylierungsreaktionsprodukt zu bilden.
14. Verfahren nach Anspruch 13, bei dem die Carbonsäure wässrige Essigsäure umfasst.
15. Verfahren nach Anspruch 13 oder 14, bei dem das Übergangsmetall der Gruppe 9 Kobalt
umfasst.
1. Procédé comprenant :
la mise en contact d'une charge d'alimentation oléfinique avec du gaz de synthèse
et un catalyseur d'hydroformylation comprenant un métal de transition du groupe 9
dans des conditions efficaces pour former un produit de réaction d'hydroformylation
;
le traitement du produit de réaction d'hydroformylation avec un acide carboxylique
aqueux dans des conditions oxydantes pour former une solution aqueuse de catalyseur
désactivé ayant un pH d'environ 4 ou moins ;
la réduction du produit de réaction d'hydroformylation pour former un produit de réaction
réduit ;
l'acheminement d'un flux de gaz à travers le produit de réaction réduit à une vitesse
suffisante pour stripper au moins une partie du dioxyde de carbone de celui-ci, formant
ainsi un produit de réaction réduit strippé ;
la mise en contact d'une solution aqueuse caustique fraîche avec le produit de réaction
réduit strippé ;
la récupération d'une solution aqueuse caustique partiellement utilisée après mise
en contact du produit de réaction réduit strippé avec la solution aqueuse caustique
fraîche ;
la combinaison d'au moins une partie de la solution aqueuse caustique partiellement
utilisée et de la solution aqueuse de catalyseur désactivé pour former un mélange
aqueux combiné ayant un pH suffisamment acide pour décomposer le carbonate ;
l'extraction d'un carboxylate de métal de transition du groupe 9 depuis le mélange
aqueux combiné dans une phase organique ; et
l'exposition de la phase organique à des conditions efficaces pour former le produit
de réaction d'hydroformylation.
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, l'acide carboxylique aqueux comprenant l'acide acétique.
3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, le métal de transition du
groupe 9 comprenant le cobalt.
4. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, le catalyseur d'hydroformylation
comprenant HCo(CO)4.
5. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, le produit de réaction réduit
étant formé par l'hydrogénation du produit de réaction d'hydroformylation.
6. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, le flux de gaz comprenant
du gaz naturel.
7. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, le flux de gaz étant acheminé
à travers le produit de réaction réduit à une vitesse d'environ 300 livres par heure
(136 kg/heure) ou plus.
8. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, la solution aqueuse caustique
partiellement utilisée comprenant environ 0,16 mole ou moins de carbonate par kg de
solution.
9. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, comprenant en outre :
la distillation d'un ou plusieurs alcools depuis le produit de réaction réduit ou
le produit de réaction réduit strippé ;
l'obtention d'une fraction organique de fond non distillée lors de la distillation
de l'alcool ou des alcools ; et
la fourniture d'au moins une partie de la fraction organique de fond non distillée
comme savons organiques au mélange aqueux combiné comme un précurseur de la phase
organique.
10. Procédé selon la revendication 9, la fraction organique de fond non distillée comprenant
un ou plusieurs acides carboxyliques en C9-18, des esters de carboxylate en C9-18, ou une quelconque combinaison correspondante.
11. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10, comprenant en outre :
l'ajustement d'un pH du mélange aqueux combiné jusqu'à une valeur d'au moins environ
7,5 avec une solution aqueuse caustique fraîche après combinaison de la solution aqueuse
caustique partiellement utilisée avec la solution aqueuse de catalyseur désactivé.
12. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 11, le pH suffisamment acide
pour décomposer le carbonate étant d'environ 6 ou moins.
13. Procédé comprenant :
la mise en contact d'une charge d'alimentation oléfinique avec du gaz de synthèse
et un catalyseur d'hydroformylation comprenant un métal de transition du groupe 9
dans des conditions efficaces pour former un produit de réaction d'hydroformylation
;
le traitement du produit de réaction d'hydroformylation avec un acide carboxylique
aqueux dans des conditions oxydantes pour former une solution aqueuse de catalyseur
désactivé ayant un pH d'environ 4 ou moins ;
la combinaison d'une solution aqueuse caustique partiellement utilisée avec la solution
aqueuse de catalyseur désactivé pour former un mélange aqueux combiné ayant un pH
suffisamment acide pour décomposer le carbonate;
la combinaison d'une solution aqueuse caustique fraîche avec le mélange aqueux combiné
après combinaison de la solution aqueuse caustique partiellement utilisée avec celle-ci,
le pH du mélange aqueux combiné étant d'au moins environ 7,5 après combinaison de
la solution aqueuse caustique fraîche ;
l'extraction d'un carboxylate de métal de transition du groupe 9 depuis le mélange
aqueux combiné dans une phase organique ; et
la fourniture de la phase organique aux conditions efficaces pour former le produit
de réaction d'hydroformylation.
14. Procédé selon la revendication 13, l'acide carboxylique comprenant de l'acide acétique
aqueux.
15. Procédé selon la revendication 13 ou 14, le métal de transition du groupe 9 comprenant
le cobalt.